Fun For The Whole Family

We had a great time last night at the Acoustic Showcase.  Two acts new to our stage, one old hand.  Two young women with lovely voices and great material, seven "grown ups" with experience and talent to spare.  It made for an excellent mix.


We began with Elli Loria.  A talented singer/songwriter, she came to our attention via her teacher, Chris McKenney (that's him on the right adding some excellent country licks).  

Elli's been playing guitar for five years (her first guitar was a sparkly pink Daisy Rock!), and writing for longer than that.  She sings refreshing, touching songs about life and love -- her voice is flexible and true.

Elli's dad backed her on one song, a bitter-sweet meditation on what's gained and lost by growing up.

Here's only a small part of Elli's enthusiastic crowd.  She played a great set, got lots of well-deserved applause, and we'll have her back as soon as we can!


We continued the wonderful music with the next group, a quintet made up of (left to right) Tom and Ann O'Donnell, Gillian Goolkasian, Ellen Watters Sullivan, and Robert Cedrone.

What a great band!  Nice set list, strong vocal harmonies, tremendous musicianship, and that lovely 'cello!  

Among numerous high points were "Creep" by Radiohead, mixed with a Dvorak (I think) 'cello solo.  Beautifully done.

Here's Ann and her niece Gillian -- both are marvelous vocalists.  At 13, Gillian is already an accomplished performer, with a strong, clear, flexible voice.

And here's another enthusiastic, attentive crowd.  What a pleasure to get so many people listening!

We capped the evening with a set from Chris Nauman, accompanied by Ken Selcer.

I love Chris's songs.  Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen -- he's got some great influences.  A nice voice with some texture to it, and songs that are moving in lots of different ways.  Ken's guitar playing was deft, assured, playful -- all that good stuff.

I was a little tired and distracted before the show last night.  By the end of the evening I was energized and happy.  We had good music, but more than that we had great feeling, human warmth and community.  On with the show!